What I Actually Wore #0042

Serial #: 0042
Date: 12/09/2010
Weather: a mild 18.5°
Time Allowed: 10 minutes

It’s very unusual for me to take a long time to dress – I tend to make up my mind quickly as I know my wardrobe well. Outfits generally start with one item, and living in Melbourne requires one eye on the forecast, and one on the constantly changing weather conditions.

Today was no exception. I had already decided to wear a new vintage 40s hat, purchased on eBay. I had stayed up late the night before, sewing on the loops that were only tacked on with yellow thread. I was surprised by this circumstance, considering the hat had been offered for sale at an American department store (its price tags were still attached). Was the buyer expected to decide whether to keep the decorative wool loops, or had a veil indeed been removed, as the seller suggested?

It’s an eccentric hat, and did not prove popular with all of my family (who have patiently borne my sartorial adventures over the years), but I love the tomato red, and its quaint shape. But worn at the wrong angle, the tilt hat does look like it has little antennas, as one of my sisters remarked in amusement! 

The leather trenchcoat is also vintage, 1970s, and was found on Etsy as a replacement for my original white leather trenchcoat, which has lamentably become quite worn. The wear makes the coat look like it’s dirty. Unfortunately the new coat has a bad habit of shedding tiny specks of white paint; I presume it has been redyed. This time I will take the advice of my drycleaner and have it oiled, to extend its lifespan. Hopefully that will also settle the dye. The leather at least is very soft and supple.

In the morning I chose to wear a cobalt blue DL top with the black wide-legged trousers, but by evening I had decided the effect of blue and red was far too gaudy. That evening I changed into a sedate ribbed charcoal grey Saba knit to go out for a glass of red with my friend Lulue.

Items:

Top: David Lawrence/Saba
Pants: Ming
Coat: vintage
Hat: Montgomery Ward, vintage 40s
Earrings: coral, handmade by me
Bracelet: from eBay
Ring: Autore
Watch: Kenneth Cole
Shoes: Diana Ferrari